Coin-controlled mechanism.



H. A. BULLARD.

com CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1909 964,848. Patented July 19, 1910.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR HERBERT BULLARD HIS 1- HERBERT A. BULLARD, 0F MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

COIN -CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed September 13, 1909. Serial No. 517,463.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mill Valley, in the county of Marin and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-controlled mechanism, and pertains especially to coin detecting and coin segregating apparatus.

The chief object of the invention is to provide an efficient means for segregating spurious or badly worn coins or tokens from the genuine ones, or the ones especially intended for the particular coin-controlled apparatus, such as in telephone boxes, vending machines, and the like. It is a matter of serious loss, under present conditions, to the owners of vending machines and other apparatus intended to deliver certain goods, or be operated on the deposit of a coin of a particular value, by reason of the use of slugs and bogus tokens.

I have designed a device which may be adapted to any coin, but for purposes of illustration it is here shown as especially intended for the United States five cent piece, or nickel. By this device only nickels in good condition will be accepted, and smooth nickels, or practically anything else attempted to be used as aspurious substitute, will be rejected. Nickels have the peculiarity that the heads side adjacent to the center of the coin is substantially in the plane of the raised edge or rim of the coin,

while the tails or V side has the center portion within the V depressed and below the plane of the rim. ()n the contrary, so-

called slugs are generally smooth on both sides, or when stamped or otherwise marked they generally have the same degree of depression or upraise on both faces. Unbalanced conditions are usually found only in coined money, whereas slugs are seldom unbalanced. One feature of my invention takes advantage of this unbalanced condition existing in the actual coins.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a rear view.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line X-X, Fig. 2, showing the electrical connections in diagram. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the caliper-ing members. Fig. 6 is a detail of the spring do showing its position when a slug is use Fig. 7 is a view of same when a proper coin is used. Fig. 8 shows the obverse and reverse sides of a coin.

My invention comprehends essentially calipering a coin or token in such manner that only a coin or token of a particular thickness and contour will effect the closing or opening of an electric circuit and permit the coin to operate the releasing or actuat' ing mechanism of a. particular coin-controlled machine; all spurious or defective coins or tokens being rejected. This desired result may be accomplished in a variety of ways. I have here shown a simple, practical embodiment of the invention as the same has been put into actual and successful use; it being understood that the present showing is intended to illustrate, and not to limit the use or form of the invention.

A is a case of any suitable description permanently attached to a machine in conjunction with which my apparatus is to be used. This case constitutes a housing and suitable guiding means for a pair of movable calipering members 2 3 which are electrically conductive, being of brass or other suitable material. As here shown, the member 2 is carried b a cylindrical thumbpiece 4, and the mem er 3 by a cylindrical guide or trunk 5, the parts 4 and 5 being slidable in the casing A.

A spring 6 inside of the thumb-piece 4: acts against the outer end of the latter and against a fixed annular stop 7 to move the calipering member 2 in the same direction in which the spring 8 tends to move the member 3; the outward movement of member 2 under the action of spring 6 being limited by the fixed stop 7, and the movement of the calipering member 3 toward member 2 being limitedby the engagement of the part 9 carried by member 3 with a fixed stop 10. Thus when the calipering member 2 is normally at rest against the stop 7 and the member 3 normally at rest against the stop 10, the space 11, Fig. 4, between the adjacent faces of the members 2 and 3 is amply sufficient to allow a coin or token of proper size and character to be dropped into the machine through the slot 12, Fig. 2.

The interior bore of the casing A and the diameter of the members 2 and 3 correspond a pproximately' with the diameter of the coin or token used, so that the coin can be gripped between the members 2 and 3, and 1f pressure is applied on the end of the thumbpicce 4 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4,

the coin or token can be pushed easily lengthwise through the cylindrical casing A and suitably guided in the latter.

If the coin or token is not of the right denomination or dimensions, or is worn smooth, it will be rejected at the proper time through a slot 13, Fig. 2, while if the com or token is all right it will be ushed on farther and finally released an accepted through the slot 14; slot 13 having a discharge chute 15 outside the apparatus for the rejected coins, and the slot 14 having a su1t-' able runway or collection chute wlthm the apparatus.

Slot 13 in the bottom of casing A is normally bridged and closed by the caliper member 3, so that when a coin is dropped in through slot 12 the coin will rest on the bottom of the casing A, between, and centering with, the members 2 and 3.

If a coin, token, or other unlocking device,

represented at 16, is dropped through slot' 12 into the space 11, and then'pressure is applied on the thumb piece 4' in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, it will push up against the member 3, and by continued pressure the springs 6 and 8 will be compressed. By suitable means shortly to be described, this coin or token, if it is a proper one for the machine, may be pushed into line with the innermost slot 14, the stop bar 9 moving along with the member 3. As the coin or token comes into line with the receiving slot 14 this bar 9 will be intercepted by a notch 17 in a spring-actuated dog 18, which will momentarily hold the member 3 against the tension of spring 8, so that when pressure on the thumb-piece 4 is released the caliper member 2 may move back under the operation of the spring 6 so as to open up the space between the members 2 and 3 and allow the coin or token to drop through the slot 14 and unlock or set in motion the mechanism of the machine which the device is designed to control. If, on the other hand, the coin or token is spurious, or a false token such as is not desi ned for the machine, the same mechanism a out to be described will only permit the caliper member 3 to be pushed in far enough to uncover the slot 13, the bar 9 this time catching in a notch 20 in the spring dog 18. When pressure is let up on the thumb-piece 4 so as to release this bogus token, the latter will drop out.

through the slot 13 and be rejected. The dog 18 is released each time member 2 assumes its normal position against the stop 7 by reason of a lateral projection 21 on member 2 engaging the cam face or incline 22 on the side of dog 18, so as to lift the latter and release the bar 9 from either of the slots 17 or 20.

Any suitable means may be employed to limit the traverse in unison of the members 2 and 3, so that only the particular coin or token especially intended for the machine can be moved as far as slot 14, thence to be released within the machine and operate the machine. Preferably I employ an electromechanical arrangement of parts including a sto member 23 which is normally interpose .in the path of the trunk guide 5 which carries the member 3. Ordinarily with the member 23 projecting in the path of the part 5, the member 3 can only be pushed back far enough so as to engage the bar 9 with the notch 20 and place the token or device 16 in line with the rejecting slot 13. If the coin or token is of the right character the stop 23 is drawn out of the way of the member 5, so that the parts 23 and the interposed token can move back to bring the token in line with the slot 14.

To operate the stop 23 I employ the following means: In the form of the device here shown, the members 2-3 carry respective contact points 24*25 arranged centrally of members 23 and in axial lme, the opposed ends of these contacts projecting through openings 26 in members 2 and 3, but having these projecting ends substantially flush with the plane of the respective members The object of especially arranging these contacts in the manner shown will be more fully understood hereinafter. These contacts 2425 are insulated from the rest of the machine and connect with respective wires 2728. Wire 27 connects with one terminal of a coil 29, and wire 28 connects with one terminal of an oppositely wound coil 30; the other terminal of each of these coils being connected together, as shown at 31, and being in circult through a wire 32 with a battery 33. The other terminal of the battery 33 is grounded, as shown at 34, with the casing A and caliper members 2 and 3. The coils 2930 being of opposite polarity and connected together, as shown at 31, it results that if the circuit is closed simultaneously through both contacts 2425 and members 23, the armature 35 which carries the stop member 23 will not be excited; consequently the members 23 cannot move far enough to bring the coin or token over the slot 14, and when pressure is released on the thumb-piece the coin or token will be ejected through slot .13.

The form of apparatus here shown is particularly adaptable to take a nickel such as represented at 16, Fig. 8. As is well known, the central part of the head side of the nickel is arranged above the surrounding fiat body portion of the nickel, so

iao

that no matter which side of the nickel is dropped into slot 12. the nickel will be in electrical contact with one or the other of the contact points 24-25. The nickel, of course, will always be in contact with both of the calipering members 2-3. ()n the other hand, the opposite side of the nickel, or the side on which the V is impressed, will have its central portion represented by the apex of the V lying in a depression which will be opposite one or the other of the contacts 24-25; but whichever contact is adjacent to the V side of the nickel will not touch the nickel, and since the contacts 2425 are insulated from the rest of the apparatus a current will pass through only one'of the contacts 24 or 25, and thence through the nickel and the members 2-3, completing the circuit through a. corresponding one of the magnets 2930 to excite the armature 35 and retract the stop 23 out of the path of the sliding guide or trunk Such a condition of a closed circuit through only one contact is desired in this present type of the invention, and such a condition will only be realized where a proper coin, like the nickel, or a token having the characteristics of a raised center on one side and a depressed center on the other, is used. Under those conditions the stop 23 will be retracted so as to allow the coin or token to be pushed in to its full limit and bring it. into line with the slot 14. If, on the other hand, the coin is worn smooth, or the token has a hole centrally through it, or is upraised on both sides, so that either both contacts 24-25 touch the coin, or neither of the contacts touches the coin, then the stop 23 will be unaitected and the coin or token cannot be pushed farther than the slot 13; the stop bar 9 catching in notch 20 of dog 18 and causing the ejection of the false token whenever the pressure on the thumb'piec'e 4 is released.

The object of the spring dog with its notches 17-20 is to hold the calipering or follower member 3 temporarily when pressure is'released on the thumb-piece 4 so as to allow the nickel or token to be released from its grip between the members 23. Notch 20 is so positioned with respect to the discharge slot 13 that when bar 9 is caught in notch 20 and pressure is released on the thumb-piece 4, the token or slug will fall out through the slot 13. Similarly, the slot 17 is positioned wit-h respect to the slot 14 so that the coin will fall out through the latter when pressure is released on the thumb-piece. Thus while the gripping members 2-3 move in unison under inward pressure of the thumb-piece, their return movement is independent, so as to give them a chance to spread apart and be held apart momentarily and so release the token. The moment, however, that thethumb-piece returns nearly to its normal wedge 22 trips the dog 18 an releases the stop member 23, bringing the parts back to initial operative position.

I11 order to retard the return movement of the thumb-piece under the action of its spring 6 and thereby insure the proper release of the token or coin, I may use a suit able brake for member 2, such as the dashpot- 36, whose piston is carried by a pro eetion 37 in extension of the cam member In operation, a coin or token is dropped into the slot 12 and into space 11 between the gripping members 23. The operator then pushes in on thumb-piece 4 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4. This will cause the coin or token to be pushed inward until intercepted by the stop 23. If both the contact points 2425 engage the coin, the stop will not be operated, by reason of the opposite polarity of the coils 29-30. Consequently the token will stop over the slot 13 and with the latch-bar 9 caught in notch 20. The moment pressure is released on the thumb-piece the token will drop through the slot 13 and be ejected from the machine. If, on the other hand, the token is the one designed for the machine, which in this case requires that the circuit shall pass through the coin and through both the members 2-3 and through only one of the contacts, then, and in that case only, will a coil 29 or 30 be excited so as to attract the armature 35 and retract the stop 23 out of the path of the grip members 28. Consequently the thumb-piece can be pushed clear in so as to bring the coin or token over the slot 14, the latch-bar 9 catching in notch 17 When pressure is released on the thumbpiece the coin may drop through the slot 14 into the machine.

It is manifest or possible that the construction herein specified may be varied without departing trom the principle of the invention, and I desire it to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or arrangement of parts, except in so far as such limitations or their mechanical equivalents are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a coin selector, the combination of means for ripping the coin, contact members carried by said gripping means, and mechanism whereby on said contacts makin certain connections with the gripped com the latter may be accepted, and on making certain other connections therewith the coin will be rejected.

2. In a coin selectorythe combination of a pair of caliper members, contact members carried thereby and engageable by a token gripped by said caliper members, means for (position, the

positioning a token between the caliper members, and mechanism by which on bringing the caliper members together to grip the token said contacts will close the circuit and allow the token to be accepted only in case said token has its faces of the )roper contour..

3. In a coin selective mechanism, means by which a coin may be gripped, mechanism for moving said gripping means after the coin is gripped, and mechanism controlled by the thickness of the coin gripped. for limiting the movement of said gripping means.

at. In a selective mechanisilmcoin-gripping means, a slide-way in which the coin-gripping means is movable, stop means to limit the movement of said gripping means in said slide-way, and means controlled by the thickness of the coin gripped to control said stop means.

5. In a selective mechanism, coin-gripping means, a slide-way in which the coingripping means is movable, stop means to limit the movement of said gripping means in said slide-way, and electrically operated means controlled by the contour of the coin gripped for actuating said stop means.

6. In a token selective mechanism, the combination of gripping means for the token, mechanism by which said gripping means may move in unison and carry the token with them, stop means normally interposed in the path of the token-gripping means, and mechanism operated by. the gripped token for removing said stop means.

7. In a coin selective mechanism, the combination of opposed spaced contacts, circuits closed by said contacts, means for moving the contacts toward and from each other,

means by which the contacts may move in one direction in unison, stop means for limiting said movement, and mechanism operated through said circuits for controlling said stop means.

8. In a coin selective mechanism, the combination of a pair of slidably mounted gripping members, means by which the members may move a limited distance in unison, and means controlled by the coin gripped between said members by which said gripping members may move a greater distance.

9. In a coin selective mechanism, the combination of a pair of gripping members, and mechanism by which, on the deposit of a coin, said gripping members will move a certain distance if the coin is of the right character and description, and will move a different distance if the coin or token so deposited is of the wrong character.

10. In a token selective mechanism, the combination of a pair of gripping members between which the token is deposited, means by which the said members and the gripped token may move in the same direction in unison, means by which the distance is normally limited w ich said gripping members and said gripped token may move in said direction, and mechanism controlled by the contour of the opposite faces of the gripped token for actuating said distance limiting means to permit said gripping means and the gripped token to move a greater distance.

11. In a coin selector, the combination of a suitable casin having a coin inlet and a lurality of out ets, a pair of caliper memers slidable in the casing between the inlet and said outlets, and means by which on the deposit of a token of one character said caliper members will only move to position the token over one outlet, while if the token is of another design said caliper members may inove to position the token over another out- 12. In a coin selector, the combination of a suitable casing having a token inlet and a plurality of token outlets, a pair of caliper members movable between said inlet and said outlets, means normally limiting the movement of the caliper members to position the gripped token over one of said outlets, and electrically operated means actuated by the gripped token to permit the latter to be moved into position over another outlet.

13. In a coin selector, the combination with a suitable casing, of a pair of caliper members slidable therein, said caliper members normally separated to receive a token, means for pressing the caliper members to- .ward each other, means permitting them to move together in unison to grip a token, and means-to vary the distance which said caliper members may move together in unison.

14. In a coin selector, the combination with a suitable casing, of a pair of caliper members slidable therein, said caliper members normally separated to receive a token, means for pressing the caliper members toward each other, means permitting them to move together in unison to grip a token, means to vary the distance which said caliper members may move together in unison, and means by which said caliper members move successively in the opposite direction.

15. In a coin selector, the combination of a pair of caliper members, means for pressing them normally toward each other, means for permitting them a limited movement in unison together in one direction, and means acting on one of said caliper members to cause its movement in the opposite direction to succeed the movement of the other caliper member in said opposite direction.

16. In a coin selector, the combination of a pair of slidably mounted gripping members, means for causing them normally to tend to move in one direction, means for limiting their movement in said direction, means by which they may move in unison in llt the opposite direction, and means to cause them to move successively on returning to initial position.

17. In a coin selector, the combination of a pair of gripping members, means for causing them to approach each other, means to limit their approach, means by which they may move a certain distance in one direction in unison, a stop to limit the movement in unison of said members, and electrical mech anism operated through the medium of the gripped token to actuate said stop.

18. In a coin selector, the combination of a pair of gripping members, means for causing them to approach each other, means to limit their approach, means by which they may move a certain distance in one direction in unison, a stop to limit the movement in unison of said members, electrical mechanism operated through the medium of the gripped token to actuate said stop, and means acting on one of said members to cause it to return to initial position after the other member has returned.

19. In a coin selector, the combination of a suitable casing having a token inlet and a plurality of token outlets, a pair of caliper members slidable between said inlet and said outlets, means for positioning them normally adjacent to the inlet, stop mechanism limiting the movement of said members between said inlet and said outlets, and electrically operated means actuated by the gripped token to operate said stop mechamsm.

20. In a coin selector, the combination of a casing, a pair of caliper members slidably mounted therein, mechanism for pressing them normally toward each other and in the same direction, means for limiting the movement of said members in the opposite direction, contacts carried by said members, and electrical mechanism connected with said contacts for actuating said limiting means.

21. In a coin selector, the combination of a casing, a pair of spring-actuated caliper members therein, contacts carried by said caliper members, said caliper members slidably mounted, a stop to limit the sliding movement of the caliper members, and electrical connections between said step and said contacts.

22. I11 a coin selector, the combination of a casing, a pair of spring-actuated caliper members therein, contacts carried by said caliper members, said caliper members slidably mounted, a stop to limit the sliding movement of the caliper members, electrical connections between said stop and said contacts, and means for limiting the return movement of one of said caliper members to permit them to open out.

23. In a coin selector, the combination of a casing having a token inlet and a pair of token outlets at different points in the length of the casing, a pair of caliper members slidably mounted therein, means for positioning the caliper members normally in open position with respect to said inlet to receive a token, and means controlled by the contour of the token between the caliper members to regulate the movement of the caliper members to the several outlets.

24:. In a coin selector, the combination of a casing having a token inlet and a pair of token outlets at different points in the length of the casing, 21 pair of caliper members slidably mounted therein, means for positioning the caliper members normally in open position with respect to said inlet to receive a token, stop means normally preventing the caliper members to be moved into position over the second of said outlets, contacts carried by the caliper members, and electrical means controlled by the contacts for operating said stop means.

25. In a coin selector, the combination of a casing having a token inlet and a pair of token outlets at different points in the length of the casing, a pair of caliper members slidably mounted therein, means for positioning the caliper members normally in open position With respect to said inlet to receive a token, stop means normally preventing the caliper members to be moved into position over the second of said outlets, contacts carried by the caliper members, electrical means controlled by the contacts for operating said stop means, and means acting on one of said caliper members to cause its return to initial position to succeed the return of the other caliper member and open up the caliper members to release the token.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT A. BULLARD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. PENFIELD, CHARLES EDELMAN. 

